Detailed profile of this breed: origin, year of creation, recognised varieties and official approvals.
Breed summary
Qualitative: The Narragansett turkey is a heritage meat breed prized on small farms for its flavorful meat, robust foraging ability, and calm disposition. It grows slower than modern hybrids but produces a well-muscled carcass with excellent breast meat when finished; well-suited to pastured systems. Quantitative: Typical mature male live weight is 24–29 lb (11–13 kg); females 12–16 lb (5.5–7.3 kg). Age at market is approximately 24–28 weeks depending on management; dressing percentage around 70–75%.
Detailed origin
Origin: Developed in the Narragansett Bay region of Rhode Island, USA, by local farmers in the early 19th century to improve meat quality and hardiness for small farm flocks; widely kept across New England; heritage breed acknowledged by aviculture associations.
Detailed description
Description: The Narragansett is a large, sturdy turkey with a broad chest and strong legs; plumage is generally dark with iridescent highlights and variable markings depending on line; head and neck are relatively bare with red wattles. Temperament is calm and it forages well. Carcass quality is high, with a favorable balance of dark and white meat typical of heritage lines; well-suited for traditional roasting and slow cooking.